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TORONTO, Canada (Reuters) -- American teenagers are under pressure to set themselves higher goals but often these are unrealistic and out of their reach, according to a Florida State University study.
The release of the survey Tuesday coincided with figures showing that students who graduated from high school in 2006 recorded the sharpest drop in 31 years in the SAT test which is used as a standardized guide for college entrance.
"Unfortunately, the goals of too many teens now outpace what they are likely to achieve, a problem that can lead to wasted time and resources, not to mention anxiety and distress," the university researchers said in a statement.
The Florida State University study, to be published in the journal Social Problems, found the gap between school leavers' career plans and their actual achievements is growing.
The study, using data from several national surveys, found that 50 percent of school leavers in 2000 planned to continue their education after college to get an advanced degree compared to 26 percent in 1976. Sixty three percent planned to work in professions like law, medicine or engineering, by age 30 -- up from 41 percent four years earlier.
But the percentage of high school graduates between age 25 and 30 who actually earned advanced degrees remained roughly steady, meaning only the expectations have changed.
Sociology Professor John Reynolds, the study's co-author, said money may be at the root of the "college-for-all" attitude but it was unrealistic to plan to become a medical doctor while turning in poor grades in high school.
He said parents, high school counselors and others are giving students the message that a college degree is the only way to get a good job when a skilled electrician or plumber can earn more than a college professor.
The non-profit College Board, which runs the SAT exams, attributed the drop in scores to the fact that the more students are taking the test once instead of several times.
This year was also the first to include an essay.
"Students are retaking the test in lower numbers, and typical when students retake the test, their scores go up by 30 points," said Caren Scoropanos, spokeswoman for the College Board.
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